The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-04-22
miscellaneous.
"PINk BOOTS"
A story Which Illustrates u Common
Phase of Every day Life


A drunken man came staggering along the
village street. AS he reached a corner he
saw a group of boys watching something
across the way. He had not entirely lost his
senses, so he wondered what they found so
interesting.
"Wha-a-at-yer yer lookin' a-At?'
well, old fellow" answered Billy Dorr,
"were looking for beauty to come out o
that store over there"
"A b-e-a.u-t-i-e?"
"Yes, a beauty; but go on, there's no use
O. you lingering TO see Pink Boots; your old
red eyes can't see half across the street"
But the rude boy was mistaken the "red
eyes" was not qnite so bloodshot as usual,
and they were looking with as much interest
as the younger eyes at Pink Boots, who lust
opened the door of the store opposite them
and came out. Pink Boots, who was
beautiful girl of ten years, had hand full of
tlowers-roses, lilies and carnations. She
walked half-dozen or more steps down the
walk, and was stepping into handsome
carriage when another little girl came in
sight. For brief moment the two children
stood in strong contrast-Florence Burr
with glowing, happy face, and Celia Hunt
with her pale distressed one. Florence was
dressed in an deliberately embroidered
pink cashmere, and her feet were encased in
beautiful pink kid, buttoned boots; for Flor
ence was going to tea-party. She wore
also broad-brimmed hat with noddng pink
plumes. AS for Celia, she wore an old dress,
so short that it revealed her bruised ankles,
which were bare like her feet, an old veil tied
about her face did duty as head protector,
but no wrap covered her shoulders, although
one was much needed this chilly day
The carriage drove away with Florence,
nd oil aEt
man saw the poor child, so did the boys.
The latter laughed, and Billy Dorr said, 81
tell you 1t pays better to sell liquor than it
does to drink it, What's your opinion, Daddy
Hunt?"
Daddy Hunt did not answer; he stood
stupidity gazing at his bare-footed, weary
faced child.
81 say, old fellow, did you buy Celia's fall
outfit at the same store that Pink Boots
father bought hers p
shut up now, will you? Ifyou don't III
knock the breath out of you"
The drunkard spoke savagely and raised
his hand to execute his threat, when sudden
ly little arm touched his, and voice said
coaxingly, Come, father"
The man suffered himself to be led away.
II was long walk TO the drunkards home.
Before he reached it he was sober.
Celia" he said, "would you like some pink
boots ?"
Like Florence Burr's, the publican's
daughter" she asked
"Yes, like hers"
No, father, l would not want them"
"Why not?"
"They wouldn't correspond with my
rags" the child said bitterly; land wouldn't
wear Florence Burr's pink boots if | had silk
dresses to wear with them" she added saw
agely.
Again her father asked the question, why
not?"
because they were bought with money
that ought to have bought bread and meat
for poor little starving children and their
suffering, crying mothers"
"Who told you so ?"
mo body told me; found out for my
self"
"You're strange child, Celia"
"Yes, perhaps am, but love you, father"
And Celia put her cold hand in her fathers.
II don't see how you can," he said, chok-
ingIy.
II guess it's because you're my father"
was the innocent answer.
AS father and daughter entered the house
the mother arose, put the sleeping babe in its
wretched cradle, and said, "Come TO sup
per"
Such supper for family of six ! only
part of stale loaf of bread and some weak
tea. The patient, weary wife would not
have been surprised if her husband had
thrown the bread across the room at the
wall and had hurled the teapot after it ours
ing her at the same time, as he had often
done before, but sue was surprised when lie
rose from the able-just after seating him.
self-and said huskily, EAT this miserable
stuff if you can, poor things, l am going
out"
He started for the door, weak and faint,
but determined. His wife followed him be-
seemingly: 'Ohi don't go out again to-
night, Fred, DON'T the baby is sick, and"
sim not going out 10 drink Mary. Don't
be worried I'll be in by nine O'clock, and if
the child should get worse, Celia will find
me at Sergeant Wright's"
"What do you suppose 1t all means,
mother p asked Celia, as soon as the father
was gone
Il don't know, child but perhaps it means
there is blessing coming 10 us all. Pray to
God that it may be So"
At nine o'clock face pcered through the
little curanless window of the kitchen. The
eyes saw u desolaie picture. 1t was this A
bare, cold looking room; haggard woman
bending over sick babe; little sad-faced
girl fallen asleep on the hard floor while
bravely waiting for father" and two pale
faced boys asleep on low bed against the
wall. Upon the boys faces were traces of
tears, for they were only little fellows of four
and six, and had cried themselves to sleep
because they were hungry.
The face moved from the window, and the
man to whom 1t belonged opened the door
and walked in.
Wife," he said, bending down to kiss his
wife's worn face for the first time in years,
"Pve been an idiot and brute, and III not
ask You TO forgive me tonight, I'll wait
until you find out that am a changed man
thank God that am! All! Celia, you're
waking, child, Florence Burr will never
buy any more pink boots with the money
that helnnra to my little nnea I've heen